Esther Goes before the King

1On the third day, Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace in front of the king’s quarters.a The king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the building. 2When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she won his favor, and the king extended to Esther the gold scepter that he was holding. Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter. 3The king asked her, “What do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even if it’s half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.”

4Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet I’ve prepared for him.”

5The king responded, “Bring Haman quickly so we may do what Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

6While they were drinking wine,b the king asked Esther, “What’s your petition? It will be given to you. What’s your request? Up to half of the kingdom, and it will be done.”

7Esther answered, “This is my petition and my request: 8If I’ve found favor with the king and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to honor my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I’ll prepare for them tomorrow, and then I’ll do what the king has said.”

Haman’s Plan to Kill Mordecai

9Haman went out that day pleased and happy, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand up and tremble in his presence, Haman was furious with Mordecai. 10Haman restrained himself, went to his house, and sent forc his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11Then Haman told them about his splendid wealth, the numberd of his sons, all the ways the king had honorede him, and that he had promoted him above all the other officials and ministersf of the king.

12Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther brought no one except me with the king to the banquet that she held. Furthermore, I (along with the king) have also been invited by her tomorrow. 13But all this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

14Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said, “Have a pole made 50 cubitsg high, and then in the morning speak to the king and have Mordecai hangedh on it. Then go with the king to the banquet happy.” This advice pleased Haman, and he had the pole made.